2017 Mercedes SL

Just the night before the LA Auto Show kicked off officially, Mercedes unveiled their latest 2017 Mercedes SL roadster, a car that has a rich history that goes back 60 years.

Since its launch, the SL has been an icon of beauty and luxury, a must have for top stars and political figures. The likes of Clark Gable and Frank Sinatra used to have one. Even Argentina’s former head of state Juan Peron had one too. Even when Mercedes introduced the new nomenclature, the SL still retained its old name tag. The two-seater coupe design is inspired by the 300 SL Panamericana racing icon of the 1950s especially on the front end.

The SL is the first car that comes to mind when movie directors need a car to depict the luxurious lifestyle of a young super-rich character in their movies.

2017 Mercedes SL L.A. Auto Show

2017 Mercedes SL Exterior

The exterior profile has been altered and now looks more premium compared to the smaller and less expensive sibling SLK-Class which will help tell them apart. The front has been completely redesigned and now features a modified grille with a diamond-pattern texture similar to the Panamericana race car. The new grille is flanked by redesigned LED headlamps. The front bumper features larger air intakes. Its hood has also been tweaked and now features dual-power domes that give it a leaner look.

The rear features LED taillights and a rounded deck lid. The rear also features some sharp angles and revised exhaust tips with a chrome finish. The SL450 and SL550 will ride on either 5-spoke or 10-spoke, 19-inch wheels while the AMG will add 6 more wheels designs. The exterior is also offered in two additional colors which are the Selenite Grey Magno and Brilliant Blue. The entire structure is made of aluminum which has helped reduce its curb weight by 220 lbs.

2017 Mercedes SL Interior

The interior of the cabriolet gets a minor refresh. The interior is upholstered in leather with an option for the premium Nappa leather. The multimedia system has received an update and now comes with Apple CarPlay. Ambient interior lighting is offered as an option.

For 2017, the vehicle comes with Harman Kardon surround-audio system as standard. If you still want more, you can opt for the optional Bang & Olufsen audio system on AMG models. The cabin will accommodate four passengers. Its hard top is now operable at speeds up to 25 mph.

The new 2017 Mercedes SL also comes with an electronically darkening Magic Sky Control LCD roof made of a glass panel but it’s offered on optional basis. The automaker has also added an automatic trunk separator that moves when the top is lowered eliminating the need to put it in place manually before dropping the top in situations when the trunk is already empty. Other features include two USB ports on the center console, nighttime mood lighting with 3-color choices, Android Auto, Stitcher radio, SiriusXM radio, Spotify and the automaker’s Command Online system which features live traffic updates.

When it comes to safety matters, Mercedes has equipped the roadster with parking sensors and a collision warning system as standard. The full Driver Assistance Package comes at an extra cost. Among others, the package includes lane keep assist, blind spot warning, autonomous braking and automatic cruise control.

Engine Specs and Performance

Mercedes has made things more exciting under the SL’s hood. The drive-trains have been upgraded for more power.

The SL450 has replaced the S400 as the base model. It comes with a 3.0 L, twin-turbocharged V6 engine paired with a new 9-speed automatic transmission system. The engine comes good with 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque representing a 33 hp increase in output compared with the outgoing model. The power pushes the vehicle to make the 0-60 mph run in 4.9 seconds.

The SL550 on the other hand is powered by a 4.7 L, twin-turbo V8 which is carried over with the same 449 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. However, due to the new 9-speed transmission, the vehicle runs faster and makes the 0-60 mph run in 4.3 seconds, 0.2 seconds quicker than the outgoing model.

Mercedes-AMG SL 65, V12-Biturbomotor, 463 kW (630 PS), 1000 Nm

At the top of the Mercedes-Benz SL Class are the two AMG-tuned models. The AMG SL63 is equipped with a 5.5 L, twin-turbo V12 engine which comes good with 577 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque while the AMG SL65 is equipped with a twin-turbocharged 6.0 L, V12 engine capable of produces 630 hp and a massive 738 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired with AMG’S Speedshift MCT seven-speed transmission. The SL63 accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds while the SL65 makes the same run in 4.0 seconds.

Official EPA fuel economy ratings are yet to be released by the automaker but the SL450 is estimated to return 30 mpg in combined drives while the SL550 returns 26 mpg in combined drives.

Price and release date

The German automaker has not announced the SL prices as of this writing. However, we expect the price to remain relatively unchanged compared to the outgoing model. The base Mercedes-Benz SL400 which has been replaced by SL450 has a starting MSRP price of $ 85,050. The high performing AMG SL65 attracts as much as $ 217,550.